Fifteen people gathered for Barra’s first lecture.
The attendees included prominent figures like Lucas and Nilson, and even Lovisa was present.
It seemed they deemed the lecture valuable enough to set aside their daily duties.
“As this is basic training, we will start by creating six Magic Bullets.”
Each person visualized the six elements: wind, lightning, water, ice, earth, and fire.
Repeating this process was said to train the elements in a balanced way.
This training method, now common knowledge, was revolutionary about 200 years ago and was called the Adler Style.
The method was invented by Kelly Adler, who became the fourth head of the Adler family.
However, it was the country of Ranleo that decided to call it the “Adler Style” instead of “Kelly Style” or “Kelly Way.”
Marius had never heard of this before, but no one else seemed surprised.
Barra appeared to be conducting a review, but Marius was already struggling to keep up.
A doubt arose: what about light and darkness?
While he could understand light, he recalled Mireille of Hordia using something akin to darkness during the Demonplay.
Barra, glancing at Marius, added a seemingly impromptu explanation as if reading his mind:
“Light is for healing magic, and darkness is for curses, so their training methods are different.”
Marius thought that light should also have offensive magic and darkness should have healing magic, but he remained silent.
This was because there was a possibility that they were either obsolete or simply not passed down in this world.
It was like how mind-reading magic was once considered a lost art, relegated to legend.
Barra continued her explanation with a clear, resonant voice, speaking with crisp articulation.
“The trick is to first imagine conjuring a small orb, and then…”
Everyone began to try it.
Even Lovisa, who wasn’t particularly skilled at magic, succeeded on her first attempt, proving Barra to be a rather adept instructor.
Marius, aware that he could only describe his own method as “gathering Magic Power tightly and then unleashing it forcefully,” was genuinely impressed.
“Next, we will discuss Magic Items. First, how to prevent high-ranking practitioners’ magic from being repelled by others…”
For Marius, who had been working on creating items for hot spring exploration, this was the perfect timing.
“This can be resolved by creating a pathway for the magic.”
(*Wh-what did she say!*)
Marius was incredibly surprised.
Once magic is cast, it remains until its effect disappears.
However, depending on the image conceived before casting, magic would not interfere with other spells, and multiple magical effects could coexist.
Everyone was listening intently to this explanation.
While they knew such techniques existed, they had not known how to implement them specifically.
“Next, how to create Magic Items without imbuing them with magic.”
This sounded quite strange to Marius, but in reality, it wasn’t entirely uncommon.
New items could be created by blending existing materials with special properties.
This technique was generally known by the name “alchemy.”
Simply imbuing items with magic would mean they couldn’t be made if the magic user disappeared.
Marius was greatly intrigued.
“For example, what kind of things can be made?”
Barra responded to Marius’s keen interest.
“Well, by mixing Bab’alura Grass, Moonstone, and the eye of an Odde, you can create the ‘Tears of the Moon Goddess’.”
The people of Filat flinched at this revelation.
Barra, not missing the fleeting expressions of shock, recognized the information that “Filat possessed the Tears of the Moon Goddess” as fact.
Gathering information with casual remarks was Barra’s method.
She then recounted how to create several other Magic Items.
In this field, Ranleo was indeed supreme on the continent.
Since Ranleo had initiated the proposal for friendly relations, it was only proper to reveal certain things, but Marius wondered if it was truly appropriate to be so generous.
“Barra-sama. Is it truly alright to be teaching us Ranleo’s techniques to this extent?” Lucas voiced the thought that passed through Marius’s mind.
Barra nodded with a bright smile.
“It’s perfectly fine. We can’t possibly win against Filat anyway.”
Her blunt statement stunned everyone, but she wasn’t finished.
“We would also like to be taught the ‘Lovisa Style Incantation’.”
She nonchalantly demanded a reciprocal exchange, cloaked in smiles. Marius wasn’t the only one who sensed a cunning aura; many exchanged glances with those beside them.
They had learned about magic user training methods and tips for creating Magic Items—things that would bolster their national strength. But they were keenly aware of the military contribution of the “Lovisa Style Incantation.”
Furthermore, after receiving such generous information, refusing was out of the question.
The beautiful young girl smiling innocently before them was, despite her appearance, quite a shrewd character.
Lovisa reluctantly began to explain the incantation.
Barra demonstrated her quick learning by reciting it perfectly after hearing it just once.
However, the magic did not activate even once.
It was not something that could be easily overcome.
Which country had gained more in the end would depend on the efforts of their respective magic users in the future.
After Princess Barra’s lecture, a tea party was held.
The attendees were Barra and her maids, Lovisa and Emma, and Bernhard III and Marius.
Barra silently celebrated in her mind, clenching her fist, but showed no outward reaction.
Marius was the only one surprised by the King’s presence.
It seemed to be a matter of public appearance, as they couldn’t very well neglect Barra, a goodwill ambassador and a princess of a nation.
Perhaps it was also because Barra, while appearing innocent and carefree, was in reality someone who required constant vigilance.
After formal greetings, the tea party began with a discussion of the Demonplay.
“Your skill during the Demonplay astonished me, Barra-dono. You displayed a strength truly befitting a Valkyrie.”
“My father often scolds me, saying I am too tomboyish and will never find a husband.”
She deflected Bernhard III’s compliment with self-deprecating modesty.
This was not entirely untrue; the Filat side was also somewhat aware of Ranleo’s situation, making it difficult to respond.
Marius, attempting to be helpful, interjected:
“Not at all. I find women like you, Barra-sama, to be quite appealing.”
“Oh? Then, would you like to propose to me as a fiancée?”
She returned his remark with a playfully mischievous smile, creating an atmosphere akin to “poking a bush and a dragon emerged.”
Now it was Marius’s turn to be at a loss for words.
Bernhard III, inwardly cursing, attempted to deflect Barra’s sharp retort.
“Marius-dono is deluged with marriage prospects. It would be disrespectful to include the Princess Royal of Ranleo among them.”
As Marius was technically a subordinate, it was appropriate for the monarch to answer.
However, Barra was not one to be deterred so easily.
“Oh? Is it not common practice for a fine gentleman to monopolize a lady?”
Her tilt of the head was endearing even to Lovisa and Marius, but the King found it irritating.
“However,” Marius added, intending to support his King, “I am not such a versatile person.”
He reasoned that if the person himself disliked being forced, he would back down. The Filat side, excluding Marius, also believed this. However, Barra was not that easily swayed.
“Then, how about it if Lovisa-sama and others were to unite with my younger brother or people from my homeland? Doing so would deepen the bond between your country and mine.”
She proposed something utterly audacious. Of course, Barra intended to eliminate a strong competitor.
However, it was a persuasive proposal.
If the Princess Royal of Ranleo married a prominent figure from Filat, and the Princess Royal of Filat or daughters of prominent families married princes or sons of prominent figures from Ranleo, it would undoubtedly forge a strong bond. There was no room for rebuttal.
Having accepted Ranleo’s proposal for friendly relations and its goodwill ambassador, they could not outright reject a marriage proposal.
Bernhard III, misinterpreting the situation, went too far in his deductions.
He failed to realize that Barra’s statement was a subtle personal jab, unrelated to Ranleo’s official intentions.
(*Oh dear, please…*)
From Marius’s perspective, Bernhard III seemed frustrated, being on the defensive against a girl barely older than his own daughter. Lovisa and Emma shared a similar sentiment.
However, this was Bernhard III’s failing.
Preoccupied with national reputation and constraints, he had greatly delayed any progress between Lovisa and Marius, or in establishing their relationship as a fait accompli.
Had he proceeded sooner, Barra would have had no opening to interfere.
It was Bernhard III’s oversight not to have anticipated such open and irrefutable attacks.
However, others were also complicit in failing to realize that Barra was satisfied as long as she could be with Marius, intending to cease her offensive afterward.
“In truth, several similar proposals have been made from other countries besides yours. I apologize, but I cannot make a hasty decision. I wish to avoid acting rashly.”
Bernhard III finally managed to utter this.
Barra smiled and withdrew, saying, “As expected.”
She judged it was not the time to force the issue.
If her personal feelings were exposed, her position could easily be compromised.
They should have taken advantage of the moment Marius showed a flicker of emotion when Lovisa’s potential marriage to a foreign prince was mentioned.
(*Perhaps Lovisa is her top choice. Having known each other for a long time must be an advantage.*)
And one must not forget the presence of the Succubus and her subordinates.
Barra’s window of opportunity for attack was likely limited.
While Marius’s opposition to polygamy was unexpected, it could be overcome by neutralizing Lovisa.
Or perhaps, she could work towards gaining his acceptance of polygamy.
(*Why is polygamy a problem? If I can figure that out, I might be able to find a breakthrough…*)
As far as Barra knew, men liked polygamy.
Her Father King, Philip, and Boris were all the same.
The King of Filat was no exception.
He had simply lost his beloved concubine early and did not appoint a successor.
There was a high probability that she had lowered her favorability rating at this tea party, but Barra was not overly discouraged.
This was because she was confident she possessed much of the information Marius was seeking.
She didn’t know that mind-reading magic could solve everything in an instant.
However, even if she had known, she probably wouldn’t have lost her composure.
Having knowledge and being able to act on it were entirely different matters, and Barra possessed the skill to implement it.
